Things You'll Need:
- Secondary email account (optional)
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Step 1
Create a secondary email account. Though this is optional, before using any Instant Messenger (IM) Web application, you should be aware that you're giving your Windows Live Messenger username and password to a third party. This opens your account to many dangers and could result in someone else taking control of it. To prevent this from happening to your main account, create a secondary email account you'll only use for online IM services.
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Step 2
Choose an online IM service from the several available, including those at Meebo and Messengerfx (see Resources below). Many of the online IM services provide a features list, screenshots or even live demos, making it easy to preview them before you choose one that meets your needs. Since most of them are free, if you choose one and don't like it, you can easily switch later.
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Step 3
Log in to the service of your choice. Many of the online IM applications allow you to log in to accounts from many services at once, without downloading anything. For example, you can log into your Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo IM, AOL IM and Google Talk all at the same time (see Resources below).
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Step 4
Use the IM service without downloading it by opening a new browser window and typing in the Web address of your Web-based IM service. Each service runs a little differently, but essentially all you need to do is add all your chat addresses in the "Accounts" tab, and all your IMs will be redirected to this one window. You can talk to your family and friends as you normally would with the client-side application.
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Step 5
Clear the cookies after you log out. This is the only way to be completely sure the site hasn't remembered your log-in and your accounts remain clear. To do this in Internet Explorer, go to
Tools -> Internet Options -> General -> Browsing History -> Delete. To do this in Firefox, go toTools -> Options -> Privacy -> Show Cookies -> Remove All Cookies.
